Lock mechanism of breech-loading guns.



A. T. DAWSON & (a. T. BUCKHAM.

LOCK MECHANISM OF BREECH LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION man JUNE?! 1913.

1,1 63,81 1, Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Invqntors W M) v A f Z jm ;Z%M%% COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAs.|m4a'roN, n. c.

STAFES ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LOCK MECHANISM OF BREECH-LOADING GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed June 21, 1913. Serial No. 774,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Sir ARTHUR TREVOR Dawson, knight, and GEORGE THoMAs BUcx- HAM, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to the Lock Mechanism of Breech-Loading Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the lock mechanism of breech loading guns and particularly to mechanism of the kind employed in heavy guns in which the lock frame is capable of sliding laterally in a box slide mounted in the swinging breech screw carrier to uncover the vent axial or the removal of the expended primer and the introduction of a fresh one.

In mechanism of this kind, if the new primer has been carelessly inserted in the vent axial so that a comparatively large portion thereof protrudes,the lock frame during its closing movement fouls the primer and damage is liable to be done to the actuating mechanism, more particularly to the link that connects the said mechanism to the guide bolt of the lock frame; this damage may be considerable when the breech mechanism is operated by hydraulic or other power.

According to the present invention we avoid the above stated liability to damage by so connecting the lock frame to the breech actuating mechanism that the lock frame moves laterally to expose the vent axial during the opening of the breech as is usual, but during the closing of the breech, remains in the open position and has to be closed by hand. We also provide means whereby re-bound of the lock frame at the completion of its closing movement is prevented, the said means preferably comprising a device on the actuating link for engaging with the guide bolt when the lock frame is fully closed. In this manner we avoid the possibilty of a mis-fire occurring as a result of the striker or firing pin not being truly central with the percussion cap or electric contact of the primer.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which 7 Figure 1 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional plan, of a breech screw carrier provided with our improved lock mechanism. Figs. 3 and f are sections taken ap proximately on the lines 1-1 and 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 2 with the guide bolt removed.

A is the carrier.

B isthe lock frame.

0 is the link connected to the guide bolt 1) of the frame and actuated by the breech mechanism.

In the example shown, the guide bolt 22 is disposed in a slot or groove 0 in the link O, this slot or groove being so formed that when the lock is closed the guide bolt 1) bears against the left hand end thereof (Fig. 2). In this manner the movement of the link C toward the right during the opening of the breech, displaces the lock frame B to the open position, while the closing of the breech takes place without moving the lock frame from this position, owing to the lost motion that is permitted to take place between the lock frame and the link, the extent of this motion depending upon the distance existing between the guide bolt and the right hand end of the slot or groove 0 when the bolt is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

A' sliding bar D guided on the breech screw carrier (preferably by dovetail projections d as shown in Figs. 3 and f) con nects the lock frame O to a hand lever D pivoted at cl on the carrier. When it is desired to close the lock frame C, the hand lever D is moved from the position indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1 into that shown in full lines and the completion of this movement indicates that the gun is ready to be fired. A stop D is provided for limiting the closing movement of the hand lever; this stop preferably has a flange 0?." which supports the lower end of the hand lever and prevents it from being bent or otherwise deranged when the recoil of the gun takes place.

The groove or slot 0 in the link G is of groove and. slot constitutes. the aforesaiddevice for engaging with the uide bolt in order to prevent rebound of the lock. When the lock frame is in the fully closed condition as shown in the drawings, the guide bolt 6 engages with the circular portion of the keyhole slot 0* (Fig. 5) and is prevented from moving by the right hand wall of the said circular portion, so that the lock frame is retained in its fully closed position. A plate or rib A on the carrier passes through the straight portion of the slot 0*, and an inclined face thereon is adapted, during the opening of the breech, to'cooperate with the guide bolt (2 to lift the latter out of engagement with the circular portion of the slot 0*. The guide bolt is thereby disconnected so far as movement in one direc tion is concerned (namely closing) from the link C so that the lock frame 13 remains in the open position aforesaid when the breech is closed, and has to be operated by hand to move it to the closed position.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, of means for automatically moving the lock frame to the open position during the opening of the breech and for automatically leaving the said frame in that position during the closing of the breech.

2. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, of means for automatically moving the lock frame to the open position during the opening of the breech and for automatically leaving the said frame in that position during the closing of the breech, and manual means for moving the lock frame to the closed position when the breech is shut.

3. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the laterally moving frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, of means for automatically moving the lock frame to the open position during the opening of the breech and automatically for leaving the said frame in that position during the closing of the breech.

4. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the laterally moving lock frame movably mounted on a part that. does not rotate with the breech screw, of means for automatically moving the lock frame to the open position during the opening of the breech and for automatically leaving the said frame inthat position during the closing of the breech, and

manualmeans for moving the lock frame device so thatfthe device carries the frame with it during the opening of the breech but automatically leaves said frame in the open position during the closing of the breech.

6. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the laterally moving lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breechscrew, and the device for actuating the same,

of lost motion means for connecting the lock frame to the said device so that the device carries the frame with it during the opening of the breech but automatically leaves said frame in the open position dur: ing the closing of the breech.

7. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the laterally moving lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, and the link for actuating the same, of a guide bolt carried by said lock frame and normally engaging with the inner wall of a slot in the link and serving automatically to leave the lock frame in theopen position during the closing of the breech, and meansfor manually moving said frame to the closed position after the breech has been closed.

8. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, of means for automatically moving the lock frame to the open position during the opening of the breech and for automatically leaving the said frame in that position during the 010s ing of the breech, manual means for moving the lock frame to the closed position when the breech is shut, and means for pre- 1 venting rebound of the lock frame from taking place when the said frame is manually moved to the closed position.

9. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, and the device for actuating the same, of lost motion means for connecting the lock frame to the said device so that the device carries the frame with it during the opening of the breech but automatically leaves said frame in the open position during the closing of the breech, and means for preventing rebound of the lock frame from taking place when the said frame is manually moved to the closed position.

10. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination With the laterally moving lock frame movably mounted on a part that does not rotate with the breech screw, and the guide bolt carried thereby of a link having a slot of keyhole formation to receive said guide bolt, said slot serving automaticallyto leave 'said frame in the open position during the closing of the breech, and manual means for moving the frame to its closed position When the breech is shut, the guide bolt engaging With the circular portion of said slot as the lock frame reaches its closed position.

11. in look mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the laterally moving lock frame and the guide bolt carried thereby, a link having a slot of keyhole formation to receive said guide bolt,

the latter engaging with the circular portion of said slot as the lock frame reaches its closed position and means for aut0matically moving said guide bolt out of engagement With said circular portion of the slot during the opening of the breech.

12. In lock mechanism for breech loading guns, the combination with the laterally moving lock frame and the guide bolt carried thereby, of a link having a slot of keyhole formation to receive said guide bolt the latter engaging With the circular portion of said slot as the lock frame reaches its closed position, and arelatively stationary projection for engaging With said guide bolt to move it out of engagement with the circular portionof the slot during the lateral opening movement of the lock frame.

In testimony whereof We aifiX our signa tures in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM. lVitnesses:

HENRY KING, JNO. B. CAsWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pat-ents,

Washington,1). C. 

